Tuesday, August 18, 2009

This might be a weird post to some, but if you’re an organizational freak like I am, you’ll be giddy. Or maybe I’m just giddy.

The other day, my friend went to get a cup for some coffee (because apparently I don’t serve my friends), and she said, “Holy crap! Whose cabinets look like this?” I immediately started sweating at the thought of what she might have found. Turns out, I just have matching dishes.

It got me thinking about what’s behind closed doors. I’ve seen your homes. I know what you ladies are capable of. So…I’m going to assume you’re just as fanatical about your cabinets as I am. Right?

One of my all-time favorite purchases is this utensil divider. It makes me love to cook dinner! No it doesn’t. That was a lie. I do love to look at it, though!

It’s me. I’m the straw freak. I use them all the time. I usually have them in a cute little basket, but I found this MEGA pack of them, and I just shoved ‘em in there.

This picture simply serves as a reminder for me to wash dish towels. Getting low.

Ahhhhh the family wine cellar/medicine cabinet. Don’t you store your stemware with your meds? How weird of you. I’m working on that situation, but for now they share a space.

In case you’re not starting to notice a pattern yet, let me fill you in on my organizing secret. BASKETS.

If I ever lose my job and need another form of income, I could simply open up a store and sell all my baskets. I could call it Bed, Baskets, and Beyond or Pier Basket or TJBaskett…

Of course, some cute little labels always help, too. To put your mind at ease, not allmy cabinets look like this all the time. I do, however, try my best. It gives me peace—kind of like chocolate.

82 comments:

My cabinets usually look pretty organized and since we just got done moving the are in tip-top shape. The one I struggle with is the meds--your baskets with the cute little tags is brilliant. I am getting baskets tomorrow!

Girl, high five! My cupboards I have to admit are mega organized. When the rest of my house is in chaos...like it is at most points of the day...I can always open a cupboard, breathe a sigh of relief and feel some sort of peace. I'm a straw freak too. Got me a whole jar of 'em! ...and a brand new 100 pack. :)

I miss the days my cabinets were that neat. They are more of a disaster area right now and they have been really bothering me. I want to use more baskets but when I find then they are more money than I would want to spend, considering the vast amount I would need. Your cabinets inspire me to clean them out. I am sure my family will thank you!! :)

My cabinets are pretty neat {not quite like yours, though}. I do like your baskets as we have one thin cabinet against a wall where we keep our vitamins, supplements and any prescriptions. I think the baskets might keep them neater, and not have it look so much like a shelf at the local CVS!

Chris! You make me want to be a better person! So I have some baskets, but now I really think they all should match (and have labels). I also store my dogs meds with my kids meds and I should probably separate those...-Jill

I am with Mrs. E and I am seriously depressed now! In my dreams would my cabinets look that organized and ummm, really, even a cute little bow on the tag???? (Ohhhh I am so not worthy to even look at these pictures!!!)

Hmmmmmmmm my cupboards are pretty organized. After looking at yours, I'm starting to feel pretty good about myself since they look pretty similar. I have been to TWO different households in the past week and their kitchens were a disorganized disaster. The only thing I have to work on is my utensil drawer and that's because I don't have enough drawer space. I need a wide drawer like yours! Ahhh I even have a meds basket! ;)

I got a big giggle out of this post. My cabinets and drawers look pretty much like yours - the medicine is even stashed in the same cabinet as the coffee cups and glasses. No cute hang tags on the baskets here, though.

I loved this post. I like to keep my cabinets organized too. Good thing since I love collecting dishes. I am out of control. I am addicted to those P words (purses, plates and paper). Crazy I know. I like the tag idea for the baskets. Very cute.

Just wanted to say - I love your cabinets! My husband calls me Mrs. Monk, by the way. Love your little tags on the baskets also. I keep my spices they don't fit on the spice rack in little baskets, grouped by what I use them for.

I'm pretty organized in the cabinet realm of things, but I just don't have enough. I live in an old farmhouse and the cabinets aren't deep and not many. Same with closets. When I moved in there wasn't one! Can you imagine??? I love what you did and I think it's pretty normal.. though not many would admit to it.

I'm also a neat nik like yourself even behind closed doors. I noticed you have your milk and juice glasses face up and all the other stuff is face down. Why is that? I have a 3 shelf rolling container in our walk in pantry that stores all medicine and first aid kit supplies.

i'm always cleaning my cabinets out and rearranging! i hate when they get out of control! my wine glasses are also in with things like the advil and bandaids! still haven't figured out a solution to that one...maybe when i hit the lottery, i can add more cabinets! lol i'm def getting some baskets to help until then though!

I love this! I used to be so organized, but my kids are wearing me down. My cabinets are not photo-worthy at this time. I plan to organize all of the cabinets after we get settled in this house. We moved in three years ago.

I just love your blog - just found it the other day. Now I want to just get up and leave my job and go home and clear out all of the 'stuff'! I have only been married almost 2 years - I was a widow - so we have his, his mothers', his grandmothers, mine, my mothers' all in the same house - just how many whisks does a person need - I need to clear everything out and pitch it - but it can get overwhelming -

Now, what I really have to say is: I'M TOTALLY JEALOUS OVER THOSE CHAIRS IN THE POST BELOW. I sincerely hope you got some good tips on reupholstering those babies, cause I can't wait to see them. Love, love them!

You are making me want to go home right now and organize some cabinets! I haev a few that I can keep looking good, you know the ones that only I get into. Anyway I think you have just inspired me to do a little rearranging. I keep our meds in our linen closet in little rubbermaid shoe boxes. They are all labeled according to what they are used for First Aid, Allergies, Cold & Sinus - it makes things so much easier to find.

I love your organization! I store tons of stuff in those little baskets. I have my straws in a tupperware modular mate. I bought tons of the modular mates when I sold tupperware....I put everything in them!

You're a girl after my own heart. I love to be organized and able to know exactly where everything is (and when I'm low on dish towels). Now if I could only get my kids and hubby to have the same interest. Love your blog!

lets see, I wish I had more drawer space in my kitchen. I am a freak about organization even when it's hiding behind the doors. I have one of those silver wear organizers too, the silver one with forks and spoons. I do love it.

Note to self: Do not, under any circumstances, let The Husband see this. He must not find out this level of organization and cleanliness is in them realm of the possible!My kitchen cabinets are... so South Central LA compared to yours! :( My kitchen is tiny, though, so I have no chance to fit all my dishes without precariously stacking mugs and haphazardly sqeezing towels and rolled-up placemats into plastic bins. Ugh.

I love baskets too. And straws. But what really made me laugh about this post is how you organize your cooking utinsels by color rather than by function. THAT is making your drawer look nice, but doesnt it make it harder to cook? -sorry. Putting away my OCD now. LOL

Yes, my cupboards are very organized. But I don't have as much space as you do or as large a cabinet as you. Boo hoo :( My meds are in the cabinet with my tea (another much needed medication). Good on ya!

I love it! I am also an organizing freak. oops, maybe you didn't say freak...you're not a freak, just me but, I do like to be organized. My hubby keeps making fun of me because I'm labeling everything! I can't stop myself...it just looks so...organized. :) I love the utensil holder for you cooking utensils. That is a drawer I need to reorganize.

My cabinets are organized and filled with baskets too. However I keep my meds basket in the bathroom, but it does make more sense to keep it in the kitchen where you can grap a glass of water....mmmm, I think I will go home and reorganize!

Just this morning I opened the medicine/junk cabinet and thought I'd better get my crap together and organize. Then, I shut it and walked away to blog...I think this is my sign. Thanks for the kick in the pants.

P.S. I received the newest Better Homes and Gardens (sept. issue) today and thought of your chairs from the previously written post of yours. Check out page 86 and look at the chairs...maybe their website could give you some ideas on how to recover them, just a thought.

If this were facebook, I'd click "Like" and give you a thumbs up! Great job with maintaining an organized home!! I agree - you may have missed your calling! You did a wonderful job inspiring everyone!!

For those who would like help with their cabinets (or any other closet or room in their home) they can search for a professional organizer near them at www.napo.net

I think storing stemware with medicine makes PERFECT sense. They are all used for medicinal purposes right? Okay girl, fess up. Did you really have all of those adorable tags on your baskets before taking the pics? I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Too cute. Love it. My cabinets are close (but I'd be tempted to go back and add bows, tags, and maybe some sequins before taking my pics and posting).:) Thanks for "following" by the way. It means a lot.

I used to be a "straw girl" too.I always seemed to have a hole in my lip or something and everything would get all over my shirt!? then I realized that I'm not getting any younger and everytime I used a straw it was the same motion as sucking on a stinky ol' cigarette! Now I just have an extra change of clothing around and the tiny lines around my lips are receding! :)

Oh, I do love your cabinets. I'm not very good with refrigerators, but I do like to keep my cabinets organized. One thing I see about your cabinets that is not true of mine: yours are not crowded. And so yours look so much better. That gives me inspiration to throw some things away. I have a huge kitchen, so I can't claim to have no cabinet space. I just have TOO MUCH STUFF. Thanks for the call to arms!

Your cabinets look great! Mine are organized too but I wanted to change the paper liners to something different so after reading your post, I changed the paper in all of my kitchen cabinets and drawers, my desk and the end tables in my living room. Just thought you'd want to know!

Truly this post has seared into my very consciousness! It has haunted my dreams until I was so obsessed, I started cleaning my cabinet... and organizing EVERYTHING!! I could have been munching on bon-bons, but I couldn't get the picture of your perfect cabinets out of my head. My family is actually pretty happy about it, but boy am I tired!! I still have at least another day of work, but I will really enjoy it when I am all done. I have a few more baskets to pick up, but I don't think my house has been this dusted in a really long time. Hey, I have 5 kids!! So, I guess I should say thank you. My life is a lot neater again!! :0)

Are you kidding me?! I totally have my meds in those EXACT same baskets, and mine live right above my tupperware! I love organization and I love baskets and any kind of cute container! I love your blog!